Chapter 42

Chapter 42: A Bunch of Wayward Disciples

Immortal Lord Chang Li waited until Shen Sang Ruo walked off before asking in a quiet voice: “Is your fellow Senior Brother really that kind of person?”

He judged that in talent and character, none of those people could match even a fraction of his own Disciples.

His confidence in winning her over rose sharply.

Shen Sang Ruo hurried toward Moonshadow Valley as she said with a small bow: “I have made you laugh at us, Immortal Lord Chang Li.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li tested her with a gentle tone: “With a Senior Brother like that, have you thought about leaving them?”

She answered with steady eyes: “I will leave for sure, whether it is Master Ling Xiao’s tutelage or the Flying Cloud Sect. The path may be hard, but I will draw a clear line.”

He asked again with interest: “What is your Master’s name, that Master Ling Xiao? Is he strong?”

After a moment of thought, she said: “He is already at Late Divine Transformation and will likely soon break through to the Void Refining Realm. He is the number one person in the Cultivation World right now.”

Master Ling Xiao’s talent and strength were beyond doubt. He was the favored child of the Heavenly Dao, with insight no one could compare to. As his Disciple, one had endless glory, resources, and admiration, and people looked up to you wherever you went.

But Shen Sang Ruo had made up her mind to leave, and nothing would make her turn back.

She suddenly remembered the scenes about Immortal Lord Chang Li she had seen in the Sunset Glassfire Art’s inheritance. She wondered: before he was sealed, what level of strength did Immortal Lord Chang Li have? She was sure of one thing: his past strength was definitely above Master Ling Xiao’s current level.

A sect’s strength can be seen from its strongest person.

She did not know if Immortal Lord Chang Li had been the strongest of the Ninghua Sect back then. But judging by what she knew, the Ninghua Sect in the old Cultivation World was at least no weaker than today’s Flying Cloud Sect, and maybe even stronger.

After the great calamity, though, it had fallen to worse than an average small sect.

Immortal Lord Chang Li nodded as if pondering and said: “Then he is indeed gifted.”

But in his heart he thought: [So that is all. The advantage is mine. My little Disciple is as good as mine.]

Talking like this, one girl and one stone soon arrived at Moonshadow Valley.

As before, Shen Sang Ruo stepped into the Formation and was sent into the Ninghua Sect. This Formation seemed to answer only to her. If others or a Demonic Beast stepped in, nothing happened.

Thankfully, she did not crash through Ye Huai’s roof like last time. She landed steadily in front of the Sect Master’s Hall.

Daoist Wu Wei, Su Xi Yu, and the others were all inside the Sect Master’s Hall. Seeing her, Su Xi Yu was first to run over with bright surprise, saying: “Junior Sister Shen, you came back so soon?”

The rest also came up and surrounded her.

They had not met for nearly two years, and they looked much the same as before.

Shen Sang Ruo had already reached Early Golden Core, yet she still could not sense their levels. She did not find that strange. As Disciples of Immortal Lord Chang Li and the Sect Master of the Ninghua Sect, they were bound to be strong.

Not to mention Daoist Wu Wei; even someone like Su Xi Yu should be at least Mid Golden Core.

Su Xi Yu looked her up and down with a touch of awe and said: “Junior Sister Shen, you have changed so much and grown so strong.”

Shen Sang Ruo smiled and traded a few warm words with Su Xi Yu.

Every gaze that fell on Shen Sang Ruo was full of joy, because her return to the Ninghua Sect meant news about the needed artifacts.

Daoist Wu Wei brought the talk back to the main point as he asked kindly: “Sang Girl, have you found clues to the artifacts Immortal Lord Chang Li needs?”

Before Shen Sang Ruo could answer, Immortal Lord Chang Li spoke first from within the Blazing Heart: “With this Immortal Lord guiding the way, success is certain.”

Hearing that familiar voice, Su Xi Yu and the others froze in disbelief.

Smiling, Shen Sang Ruo took the Blazing Heart from her neck. Immortal Lord Chang Li’s soul had recovered, so it was no longer locked there.

The Blazing Heart floated in the air, sending out dark red rays.

Immortal Lord Chang Li spoke again, and only then did Su Xi Yu and the others come back to themselves: “A bunch of wayward disciples, do you not even recognize your own Master?”

Su Xi Yu burst into tears of joy and cried: “Master’s soul has recovered!”

They all rushed forward and hugged together around the Blazing Heart. Eyes shining with tears, they choked out the word “Master” to a floating stone.

They could not say how many years it had been since they last heard Immortal Lord Chang Li’s voice. Words could not cover the pain of that wait. Now that master and disciples had reunited, how could they not be excited?

Shen Sang Ruo stepped to the side to give space and said with a gentle smile: “I have gathered all the artifacts Immortal Lord Chang Li needs. He should wake fully very soon.”

Daoist Wu Wei walked to her side. His old eyes were a little red as he patted her shoulder and said: “Good. Good!”

They had thought they would have to wait decades, even a hundred years. They had not expected that in less than two years, Shen Sang Ruo would bring everything back.

After a while, Su Xi Yu and the others calmed down and let go of the Blazing Heart. Su Xi Yu’s voice was sincere as she said: “This trip must have been so hard, Junior Sister Shen. Thank you for helping wake Master.”

Ye Huai and the others also thanked her.

Shen Sang Ruo rubbed her nose, feeling a little guilty, and said: “I did not do much. Immortal Lord Chang Li guided me the whole way.”

They wanted to ask about her journey, but Immortal Lord Chang Li cut in with dry humor: “How about you wake this Immortal Lord first, and then ask her what she went through?”

If the Blazing Heart had a face, it would be wearing a deadpan fake smile. A bunch of wayward disciples: one moment they were crying for their Master, and the next their hearts were all leaning toward their new Junior Sister. [Cold. The real chill is not in shouting.]

Su Xi Yu coughed and scratched her head with embarrassment as she said: “We almost forgot you.”

They hurried to Immortal Lord Chang Li’s cave dwelling. The Ice Coffin was still there, the person inside lying quietly with eyes closed.

They placed the Blazing Heart into the Ice Coffin. At once its glow went dim. The wisp of soul had returned to Immortal Lord Chang Li’s body.

Shen Sang Ruo took out the Phoenix Feather, the Thousand-Year Phoenix Bone, and the Phoenix Heartblood from her Cosmos Pouch and set them in their places as Immortal Lord Chang Li had instructed earlier.

Everything was ready.

Daoist Wu Wei stepped forward. Forming Hand Seals with one hand and chanting obscure spells in a low voice, he guided it all.

Red flowing particles stretched out from Immortal Lord Chang Li in the Ice Coffin and gathered on the three artifacts.